Cultivating Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education

When parents take an active part in their child’s early education, the child tends to do better in school, at home, and with other people. This guide is for teachers, school heads, and other education workers in early childhood programs. It explains why parental involvement matters, how to encourage it, what gets in the way, and how to tell whether your efforts are working. Parents can also use it to see the many ways they can support their child’s learning.

On this page 7 sections

Why parental involvement matters

Research links active parental involvement to:

• better school attendance
• higher grades and improved academic achievement
• better social and emotional development
• improved behavior

A study by Desforges and Abouchaar (2003) found that parental involvement has a significant positive effect on children’s educational outcomes, whatever the parent’s educational background, income, or ethnicity.

Involvement helps the adults too. Parents gain a better understanding of their child’s strengths and needs, a greater appreciation of the learning process, and more confidence in supporting their child’s learning. Teachers learn more about each child’s needs, interests, and strengths, which can shape teaching strategies and the curriculum.

Many parents, however, are unsure how to get involved or lack the resources to do so. That is why educators need to invite and support them actively.

Strategies to build parental involvement

Build positive relationships with parents

Keep communication open and honest. Invite parents to take part in school activities such as parent-teacher conferences and classroom events, so they feel part of the learning process.

Give parents resources and support

Share information on community resources such as libraries and literacy programs. Offer workshops or training sessions on topics such as child development and effective parenting.

Involve parents in learning at home

Send home reading materials and suggest simple learning activities that parents can do with their child.

Create a collaborative learning environment

Involve parents in curriculum planning and decision-making, and ask them for feedback on their child’s progress.

Common challenges and how to address them

Challenge	What it looks like	How educators can respond
Time constraints	Parents are busy with work or other commitments	Offer flexible options, such as evening or weekend activities and online resources available any time
Language and cultural barriers	The family speaks a different language at home or comes from a different cultural background	Provide resources in more than one language or translation help; learn about and respect the family’s cultural practices and beliefs
Lack of knowledge or confidence	Parents feel they do not know enough to help	Provide resources and support, and recognize the contributions every parent can make

Best practices for teachers and schools

1. Start early. Share information about the child’s development and learning as soon as the child enters the early childhood program.
2. Be proactive and responsive. Reach out regularly, for example through weekly newsletters or phone calls, and be available to meet parents when they need to.
3. Set clear expectations. Tell parents the specific ways they can be involved and how their involvement helps their child.
4. Recognize and appreciate parents. Thank parents for their efforts and include them in decisions.
5. Use technology. Parent portals, learning management systems, social media, and email can make communication and access to resources easier.

How to check whether involvement is working

Evaluating parental involvement shows whether it is reaching its goals. Look at these areas:

• Academic achievement: grades, test scores, and attendance.
• Social and emotional development: social skills, behavior, and self-esteem.
• Parental engagement: how many parents attend school events, join parent-teacher conferences, or volunteer in the classroom.
• Teacher and parent perceptions: surveys or interviews on how both groups see the effect of involvement on the child.

Key takeaways

Parental involvement supports children’s academic achievement, social and emotional growth, and long-term success. Educators can build it through positive relationships, practical resources and support, learning activities at home, and real collaboration. Barriers such as limited time, language and cultural differences, and low confidence can be eased with flexible options, accessible materials, and encouragement. Checking results regularly helps schools improve their approach. It takes effort and commitment, but when teachers and parents work together, children get a better start in life.

Frequently asked questions